Cloud Native University: Platform Engineering — About Tools, Techniques, People and Culture

Platform Engineering is all over the place — yet many people tell us they heard it for the first time at KubeCon. Let's explore how platforms aren't just infrastructure: they're products that combine tools, automation, and self-service capabilities to make developers' and other personas' lives easier. I'll demystify the core concepts: what platforms actually do, why they matter in cloud-native environments, and how they reduce complexity rather than add another layer. Great platforms aren't built on technology alone — we'll explore the often-overlooked human side: understanding user needs, fostering collaboration, and cultivating a platform-centric culture through training, community building, and advocacy. You'll learn why platforms succeed or fail based on how well they respect the socio-technical system, where technology meets people, workflows, and organizational culture.